Building construction



May 4, 1943. A. c. OLSEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 1. 1940 Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT ,O'FFICEII BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Anders 0. Olsen, Binghamton, N. Y. Application October 1, 1940, Serial No. 359,278

13 Claims.

This invention relates to building constructions and more particularly to built-up panelled structures suitable for interior sheathing installations such as, for example, those used to provide ceilings in buildings of either a temporary or permanent type.

A general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved ceiling or similar sheathing installation, including complete suspension or supporting means therefor, and novel panel or tile units which go to make up the exposed portions of the sheathing construction, these tiles preferably having certain advantageous acoustic properties, for example, being made of certain sound-deadening material.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a ceiling installation of this general character which is of comparatively simple but sturdy construction, whicn is made of light-weight fireproof materials, and which is easy and economical to install or to dismantle.

The invention in its preferred embodiment contemplates the provision of a series of spaced main supporting strips which are suspended by means of novel attaching elements from the interior framing structure of the building, so asto be disposable at any desired distance apart across the width of the room. The attaching or suspending elements have a universal type of connection with the strips so that they may be located at any point along the latter, either at equally spaced intervals or at random points, suiting the convenience or necessities of the particular installation.

The tile or panel units are of a peculiar configuration whereby they are applicable to the suspension means either after all of the spaced main supporting strips are in place, or in successively applied rows which are attached to the suspension as these main supporting strips are progressively installed. The attachment of the tiles is effected by means of novel separating strips or cross strips which are connected with adjacent edges of the adjoining tiles of a, row and are adapted to bridge the spaces between the main supporting strips and to interlock at their ends with certain portions of these main strips.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

. In the drawing: I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in perspective and partly in vertical section, of a portion of a ceiling installation embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the installation shown in Figure land taken transversely of the double clip elements;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on a plane at right angles to that of Figure 2, as indicated by line 33 in the. latterfigure; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of one of the novel tiles or blocks employed in the installation.

It will be, apparent that the novel sheathing installation provided by the present invention is applicable to wall or ceiling structures applied to any type of building or enclosure but is especially'useful in providing, ceilings of the orna mental or acoustical'built-up panel type which are suspendedfrom overhead framing structures. The several elements of the suspension are preferably made of light metallic construction, and the tiles themselves are preferably'made of noncombustible or non-inflammable material thus making the ceiling fire-resisting or completely fireproof. I

In thegexemplary embodiment illustrated in Q the drawing, a plurality of spaced elongated channel members H] are disposed across the upper part of the enclosure and are held in place by any suitable means which are not shown in the drawing. These primary supporting elements, furthermore; may be of any suitable configuration but are preferably of a generally rectangular contour in cross-section, as exemplified by the channel shape selected for illustration .herein; Extending transversely of these primary elements [0 are a series of porting strips I2 which are made of sheet metal, and are of a relativelypfiat box-like construction such as attained by the provision of the vertical parallel main supportions l4 upon each side of the strip, which portions terminate in horizontal inwardly bent flanges Hi, this arrangement providing undercut slots designated I5 upon ,each side of the strips. 7

The general arrangement and orientation'of themain supporting strips and the intervening panels'or tiles is somewhat similar to the arrangement illustrated in my prior United States Patent No. 1,865,l31,'whichh0wever, covers a metallic ceiling construction utilizing suspension elements of quite'diiferent type. h

Each of the main supporting strips I2 is se-' cured to andsuspendedj from the members I!) at points where the strips and members intersect V and this attachment is effected by means of novel connecting elements or clips designated generally by the numeral 20. These clips are arranged in mating pairs and are preferably made of sheet metal. The clips of each pair are provided with base flanges 2| extending in opposite directions away from the main vertically disposed body portions of the clips, these body portions being cut away adjacent the center and one side of the clips to provide for the passage of the members l therethrough. The upper bridging portion 22 of each clip is provided with .a downwardly extending end 23 which provides a hook-like part which fits over the upper flange of the member 10. Beneath this bridging portion the body portion and the flange 2| are extended to form the lower projection 24.

In installing the ceiling the main supporting strips I2 are disposed beneath the members It) with the flanges 2| of the clips occupying the opposite under-cut slots lb of the strips but spaced from each other along the strips upon either side of the member III to which they. are to be attached. Then the elements20 are slid toward each other along the strips |2 until the hooked portions 22 overlap above the member l0 and embrace the upper portion of this: member as clearly shown in solidlines in Figure 1 of the drawing. The dotted line position of one of the clips in this figure-is indicative ofthe preliminary positioning thereof before it is moved into interlocking relationship with the member l0. As shown to better advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing, the distance between the-lower edge of the downwardly projecting portion 23 and the horizontally extending portion 24 of the clip is at least sufficiently great to accommodate the vertical height of the member In. Then'when the clips are applied, the members or strips |2 will be suspended a short distance below the members I0.

It will be noted that the pairs of interlocking clips 23 are disposable at any point along the members In so that the main. supporting strips l2 may be spaced at any desired interval across the room, this interval being governed by the width of the panels which are disposed between the parallel strips l2. As an example of the typeof panels or tiles employed in the ceiling construction, there is illustrated at 25 an acoustic block or tile, the pairs of opposite edges of which are cut away or kerfed in a novel fashion suitable for' facilitating the installation of this ceiling construction. Along the edges of-'the tiles which are; disposed adjacent and parallel with the main supporting strips I2, approximately-the upper half ofthe-tile is cut away or-set back for a distance equal to substantially one-half the width of the strips |2 as indicated at 21. The other pair of opposite edges are provided with slots or kerfs as at 28, the lower sides of which are preferably co-planar with the horizontal surfaces 29 at the other edges of the tile formed by the cut away portion 21.

The tiles 25 are applied so that the shelf-like surfaces 29 are in contact with the under-sides of. adjacent parallel strips l2 and then the transversely extending cross strips 30 are applied to the kerfed edges of the tile. These cross strips are of inverted T-shapedconfiguration having wings or, flanges 3| extending horizontally from the doubled vertical main portion 32. One of the wings 31 is inserted in the kerf 28 of the tile and the opposite ends of thecross strips 30 rest upon the edges ofthe longitudinal main supporting. strips |2.and thus support the attached block or tile 25. Each of the wing flanges 3| of the cross strips 30 is provided adjacent its ends with an interlocking finger 35 which is formed by cutting a slit 36 part way in from the edge of the wing and bending the short end portion of the flange, which provides the finger referred to, downwardly within the space between the inwardly directed flanges |5 of the strip |2.

The next tile to be applied is then placed between the strips |2 and arranged in abutting relation with the previously applied tile of the row being formed, with the remaining flange or Wing 3| extending into the kerf 28 of the newly applied tile, and then the next succeeding cross strip 30 applied in the same way as previously I described. Thevertical extent of the body portion 32 of the cross strips 3|] is preferably approximately equal. to the thickness of the tile between its upper surface and the upper wall of the kerf 28, and this dimension is, in the preferred form, sufficient to extend nearly to the lower flange of. the member ID, and thus prevent the withdrawalof the hooked clips 20 from ongagement with the member |0 until the ceiling is dismantled. Thus there is provided. by. this means the effective interlocking between the strips l2 and the members I0 and between the cross strips 30 andthe main strips l2.

It will also, be observed that. the interlocking connection, between the cross strips 30: and the main strips l2 may. occur at: any; point along these main strips and, not; necessarily at; the points where the clips;20 ,occur, this coincidence of attaching means being shown: in the figures of drawing merely for convenience ofillustration. Thus the tiles. 25 may be ofany desired length longitudinally of the, strips l2.

Itv is understood that various changes and modifications may be made. in: the embodiment illustrated herein without: departing from the scope of the invention as, defined by; the following claims.

Having, thus described the invention, what is claimed, as new and". desired. to: be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In abuilt-up'panelled ceiling, structure or thelike,.in.combination,.a plurality of elongated, spaced, parallel, main supporting strips, means for securing said strips. to the framework of. a building, a plurality: of: rows of panels,.each row supported. between adjacent ones ofsaid supporting strips, a plurality: of" sheet metal cross strips each disposedbetween and connected with the adjacent edges of adjoining panels: andseated at their ends upon said: main supporting strips, a continuous elongatedi shoulder extending longitudinally. of 'theupper surface of each. of said main supporting. stripsinwardly of the side edges thereof, and a tongue struck from the lower portion of the ends of said cross'stripsand' bent downwardly behind said shoulder to interlock the, ends of: said cross strips with said longitudinal stripsat any point along. thelatter.

2. Ina built-up panelled ceiling structure or the like, in combination, a plurality of elongated, spaced, parallel, main supporting strips, means for securing. said: strips to. the framework of a building, aplurality of'rows of panels, each row supported between adjacent ones of said supporting strips, a plurality. ofrcross strips each disposed: between and; connected with. the.- adjacent edges of adjoining panels andi'seated at. their ends upon said main supporting strips, said cross strips, being, of. inverted; T-shape having horizontal base: flanges adapted to; engagesaid;

panels and to rest at their ends upon the upper surface of said supporting strips, a continuous elongated shoulder extending longitudinally of the upper surface of each of said main supporting strips inwardly of the side edges thereof, and tongues struck from the end portions of said base flanges and bent downwardly behind said shoulders to interlock the ends of said cross strips with said longitudinal strips at any point along the latter.

3. In a built-up panelled ceiling structure or the like, in combination, a plurality of elon-. gated main supporting strips, means for securing said strips in spaced parallel relation to the framework of a building, said means comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating hook elements having sliding engagement with said strips longitudinally thereof, the elements of each pair having cooperating means adapted to interlock with portions of said strips and each having a hooked portion oppositely disposed with respect to the hooked portion of the other element of said part to mutually engage a part associated with the framework of the building, and means for supporting ceiling surface panels from said strips.

4. In a built-up panelled ceiling structure or the like, in combination, a plurality of elongated main supporting strips, means for securing said strips in spaced parallel relation to the framework of a building, said means comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating hook elements having sliding engagement with said strips longitudinally thereof, the elements of each pair having oppositely extending flanges adapted to interlock with portions of said strips and having oppositely extending hooked portions adapted to overlap each other and embrace a part associated with the framework of the building, and means for supporting ceiling surface panels from said strips.

5. In a built-up panelled ceiling structure or the like, in combination, a plurality of elongated main supporting strips, means for securing said strips in spaced parallel relation to the framework of a building, said means comprising inwardly directed under-cut grooves formed in said strips, cooperating pairs of hook elements, each element of each pair having a flange adapted to be disposed within a groove on one side of a strip, said element adapted to be slid longitudinally of said strip into overlapping relationship with the mating element of the pair, hooked portions on said elements adapted to engage a part associated with the framework of the building when said elements are in said overlapping relationship, and means for supporting ceiling surface panels from said strips.

6. In a built-up panelled ceiling structure or the like, in combination, a plurality of elongated main supporting strips, means for securing said stri in spaced parallel relation to the framework of a building, said means comprising inwardly directed Lmder-cut grooves formed in said strips upon the upper surface thereof, cooperating pairs of hook elements, each element of each pair having an outwardly extending flange adapted to be disposed within a groove on one side of a strip, said element adapted to be slid longitudinally of said strip into overlapping relationship with the mating element of the pair, whereby removal of said flanges from said grooves transversely of said strip is prevented, hooked portions adapted to overlap each other and embrace a part associated with the framework of tween the cross strips and the supporting ceiling ing pairs of hook elements; each element of each pair having an outwardly extending flange adapted to be disposed within a groove on. one

side of a strip, said element adapted to be slid longitudinally of said strip into overlapping relationship with the mating element of the pair, whereby removal of said flanges from said grooves transverselyv of said strip is prevented, a plurality of spaced supporting bars associated with the framework of the building and extending in a direction transversely of said main ceiling supporting strips, and hooked portions formed on said elements and adapted to embrace said supporting bars at any point therealong.

8. In a built-up panelled structure of the class described, in combination, a plurality of spaced main panel supporting strips disposed substantially within the plane of the panelled structure, an elongated suspension member disposed ina plane parallel with the plane of said structure and extending across said supporting strips, a suspension element having a base portion secured to one of said strips, and a hook portion extending therefrom and receiving said suspension member within the bight of the hook, the hooked end of said hook element projecting inwardly and the distance between said inwardly directed end and the base portion being substantially equal to the thickness of said suspension member and less than the distance across'the bight of the hook, and a plurality of panel elements secured to the supporting strips, the thickness of the panel elements being such that they project from the plane of said strips across the portion of the bight of the hooks not occupied by the suspension member, and thus effectively lock the hook elements, supporting strips and panels securely to the suspension members.

9. In a built-up panelled ceiling structure, in combination, a plurality of elongated main supporting strips, means for securing said strips in spaced parallel relation to the framework of a building, said means including a plurality of suspension elements, an elongatedislot formed in each of said main supporting strips upon each side of the upper surface thereof and extending from end to end of said strip, said suspension elements having portions adapted to be slidably received within said slot for adjustable positioning of said elements at any point along said strip, rows of ceiling surface forming tiles disposed between adjacent main supporting strips, a cross strip disposed between each adjacent tile in a row, interlocking with said tiles, and means on each end of said cross strips for engaging said slots for efiecting an interlocking engagement bemain supporting strips.

10. In a ceiling suspension means or the like, an elongated supporting strip made of sheet metal and having its side edges bent at right angles to the main body portion and then inwardly toward each other to terminate in a flange which is parallel to the plane of the body portion, thus providing mutually inwardly opening slots, and a pair of sheet metal suspension elemerits; each. having base flanges bent. at right; angles to the body. portions of said. elements, in: opposite directions, andslidably received within the, respective slots in the strip, thecombined widths of said base flanges of said pair ofgelemerits being approximately equal to the width of the body portion of said: strip, whereby when the elements are overlapped. removal. thereof from the strip is prevented, and means on said suspension. elements for connecting them. with the framework of. a building.

11. In-a ceiling suspension means or the like, a. plurality of; spaced parallel elongated supporting strips made of sheet metal and each having its side edges bent at right angles to the main body portion, and. then inwardly toward each other to terminate in aflange which is parallel to the plane of. the body portion, thus providing-mutually: inwardly opening slots, and a pair of sheet metal. suspension elements each having basefianges bent at right angles to the body portions ofsaid elements, in opposite directions, and'slidably received within the respective slots in the strips, thecombined widths of said base flanges of' said pair of elements being approximately equal to the width of the body portion of said strips, whereby when the-elements are overlapped removal thereof from the strip is prevented, and

means onsaid suspension elements for connecting. them with theiramework of a building, and a. plurality of cross strips-connecting adjacent elongated supporting strips at intervals, the ends of:saidsupportingstripsresting upon the flanges of said elongated strips and having portions bentdownbehind said flanges to effect an interlocking engagement.

12. As, an article of manufacture for use in building constructions of the class described, a strip of; substantially T-shaped cross-section, the arms; of: the T-shaped, member being slit adjacent the: ends of the strip from the edges of said arms-inwardly of the strip, and the end portions bent away from the plane of said armsto engage a cooperating element.

18. As an article of manufacture for use in building constructions of the class described, a strip of substantially T-shaped cross-section,

formed of sheet metal bent double to provide the vertical portion of the T, and having flaring wing flanges forming the arms of the T, the arms of the T-shaped member being slit adjacent the ends of the strip in a direction transversely of the strip, and the end portions bent away from the plane of said arms.

ANDERS' C. OLSEN. 

